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FRIDAY, Feb. 8, 2013 — Are you stressed out about work? If so, you are part of a whopping 65 percent of Americans who say work is a significant source of stress in their lives, according to the Stress in America report, released by the American Psychological Association (APA) yesterday.

That’s just one of the statistics that was revealed in a study that measured attitudes and perception of stress and showed that Americans are struggling to keep their stress levels lower.

Americans consistently report stress that exceeds what they believe to be healthy:

35 percent of Americans say their stress has increased since last year

74 percent of people with high stress say stress management is important

31 percent with high stress say they never discuss stress management with health care providers

Even the younger generation is stressed out! 39 percent of millennials (people in their twenties) say their stress increased last year and 44 percent reported irritability or anxiety due to stress.

The study pointed a finger at the health care industry for not offering effective and consistent stress management.

“Stress is a big issue for a large portion of Americans,” says David Ballard, PhD, a clinical psychologist and Assistant Executive Director for Organizational Excellence. He says Americans are challenged when it comes to managing their stress. They know it’s a problem. They have goals for improving their lives, but have not yet reached them.

Ballard says we have to begin to adapt the systems and environments all around us. “We have to address stress on all levels,” he says. “It’s a shared responsibility. We have to address it in the health care system as well as creating healthier environments in our workplace.”

When a Little Bit of Stress Can Help

While highly stressful situations can do us in, for some people a bit of stress can inspire and motivate — especially at work. Judith Gerberg, MA, LMHC, a New York City-based career counselor, says that we can all benefit from what she calls “euphoric stress.”

“You need a certain amount of stress,” Gerberg says. “It’s like when you are a performer and you get into the excitement phase, where all your hormones are firing off, in a good way.” She says the problem with stress arises when you are in an agitated, excited state without a chance to recharge. ‘That’s burn out,” she says. The excitement of euphoric stress can get you started on projects, but pressures, deadlines, and demand for a quick turn-around can begin to wear your down, especially if there is no restorative time.

That’s when stress can possibly make you sick.

Unhealthy Stress

At a press webinar yesterday to discuss the Stress in America report, Norman B. Anderson, PhD, CEO, and executive vice president of the APA reported that, “People with chronic illness see their health care provider at least three times a year or more, but only get slightly better stress management support.” He indicated that stress has a negative effect on chronic health issues, from arthritis to full-blown AIDS.

He explains that stress and our reactions can indeed add to serious health issues.

“All stress is mediated by the same biochemical pathways and nerve pathways in a human being,” he says. “We only have one nerve pathway through which all stress is mediated, so regardless of the sources, or where it comes from, stress is damaging.”

“It’s damaging to the cellular level. It’s damaging in the way the autonomic nervous system works. Stress, through cortisol, activates certain problems with sugar metabolism and makes people more prone to developing situations like diabetes and hypertension. Generally when we have cellular damage we can’t predict whether that’s going to lead one person to one manifestation to a chronic ailment of some kind.”

The American Psychological Association said that the health care system has fallen short on stress management and they said there was a gap between what people with chronic illnesses need, and the care they are receiving.

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